Cricket Australia confirms racial abuse against Indian cricketers; Statement released

Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday confirmed that Indian cricket players were subjected to racial abuse by drunk spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following the incident, the Indian team management had filed a complaint with the match officials.

In their recently released statement, CA said, “Cricket Australia has submitted its report into crowd behaviour at the SCG during the third Test against India to the International Cricket Council. CA confirms that members of the Indian cricket team were subjected to racial abuse. CA’s own investigation into the matter remains open, with CCTV footage, ticketing data and interviews with spectators still being analysed in an attempt to locate those responsible. Spectators who are found to have breached CA’s Anti-Harassment Code face lengthy bans, further sanctions and referral to NSW Police. CA’s investigation concluded that the spectators filmed and/or photographed by media in the Brewongle Stand concourse at the conclusion of the 86th over on day three of the Test did not engage in racist behaviour. As stated at the time of the incident, CA has a zero tolerance policy towards discriminatory behaviour in all forms and, as hosts of the Border-Gavaskar series, apologises to the Indian men’s cricket team.”

“CA is awaiting confirmation from NSW Police that it has completed its investigation into the matter and will not offer further comment until it is received,” the management added. On the second and third day of the Pink Test in Sydney, a group of drunk spectators hurled racial abuses at Indian fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. When the latter alerted the umpires and the Indian team management, the group was immediately removed from the stands. “Siraj was referred to as ‘Brown Dog’ and ‘Big Monkey’ both of which are racist slurs. The matter was immediately brought to the notice of on-field umpires. They were constantly abusing Bumrah too,” a BCCI source reportedly mentioned.